Considering the housing crisis that Toronto is going through and the city’s projected population growth — from the current 2.7 million to over 3.9 million by 2041 — a different approach needs to be considered to accommodate growth within the city’s neighborhoods. This research looks at different ways of densifying Toronto’s infamous Yellowbelt — areas zoned primarily for detached homes — first by identifying different edge conditions and locations with opportunities for growth; second, by proposing different solutions that can be applied around the city.

Initially, the macro-scale analysis starts by showcasing the area the yellowbelt occupies and the hurdles it creates for densification. The Yellowbelt isn’t only the outcome of the zoning by-law; but also, Toronto’s Official Plan; as the Yellowbelt is designated under the “Neighbourhoods” category. “The stability of our Neighbourhoods’ physical character is one of the keys to Toronto’s success. Physical changes to our established Neighbourhoods must be sensitive, gradual and “fit” the existing physical character”, Toronto’s Official Plan. The previous paragraph is not just a law, but an ideology that permits change. If we were to disregard this; there are many areas that can be used to ignite the change in the Yellowbelt. The macro-scale maps demonstrate those areas and identify different influencers that can be used to justify density increase.

After careful study of the City of Toronto and possible areas of intervention, one area pops out: Etobicoke Center. The residential area around Etobicoke Center is mostly zoned as Residential Detached (RD), and it exhibits many conditions that justify densification, such as proximity to centers & avenues such as Bloor St. West & The Queensway; proximity to transit & a future mobility hub; availability of green space and multiple community facilities; as well as a progressive industrial area that can encourage the mix of uses and introduction on new building typologies. The mentioned conditions would justify the intensity of densification as it justifies more density where two or more of those conditions apply.

Finally, I selected few areas exemplify density increase that represent different conditions; when it comes to proximity of employment zones to RD zones; two areas were selected where detached homes meet small scale employment, and an area where they meet large scale employment and their relationship to green space. The other selected area represents a condition where there is no transition in density from avenues to the neighbourhoods with many conditions that justify density increase.